Shoe for divers



Juy 9, 1946. v J* BRWNE 2,403,477

vSHOE FOR DIVERS Filed Jan. 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l may 9, '1946.

J'. BROWNE SHOE kFOR DIVERS Filed Jan. 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jaak Bram/m? Patented July 9, 1946 U N lTED .STA'l'flilSv PATENT OFFICE I y 2,403,477 y sHoFoR DI'vERs J ack Browne', Milwaukee, Wis., asslgnor to Diving Equipment" andV Supply Company, Inci, Milwaukee, Wis.,1 a corporation of Wisconsin Application .ramal-ys, 1945"; serial-'N'. 5713769 v (Cl. Sli-2.5):

Glaims'.

This invention relates to diving equipment` and refers particularly to shoes for divers, being acontinuation in part of the copendingapplication of John W. Browne (by lega'lchange of name, Jack Browne), Serial No. 427,736,- filed January 22, 1942.

A submerged diver moving along the .bottom leans forward and walks on his toes, or` more accurately, pushes himself along with histoes. It is important, therefore, thatthe diver-s shoes be so designed and constructed as to affordL maxi- Y mum stability and comfort. To this end it is' an `object of this invention to provide a shoe specifically designed for use by divers, which has a sole shaped to provide increased stability against rocking as the diver pushes along on his toes and thus eliminate much ofthe strainy on the ankle and foot which was characteristic of divers shoes heretofore available.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a' shoe for divers having a square'`- toe sufficiently wide to guardv against a tendency for the shoe to rock as the diver maneuvers along a submerged surface.

As is well known, the shoesof diversare gen'- erally weighted, and heretofore it has been customary merely to provide loose Weights whichwere strapped to the soles of the divers shoes: Obviously, this expedient lacks stability, and it is therefore another object of this invention to provide a shoe which has a weighted tread or external sole portion rigidly secured to the actual sole of the shoe so as to entirely overcome the 'objectionable looseness heretofore experienced and to make possible the removal and substitution of different weight treads.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoe of the character described having a comfortable snug fitting upper which by virtue of its novel construction is securable over the foot portion of the divers dress without danger of having it cut into or seriously wear the dress.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a shoe for divers wherein the upper, formed of canvas or other suitable fabric, is readily removably secured to the sole to thus enable replacement of the upper when it becomes worn.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodithroughtlie sole of one' of the shoes illustrating the manner inwhich the uppers and tread are securedt'hereto;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of ashoe of modified construction; l v

Figure 6 isa bottom View of the toe portion Vof the shoe 'shownfinFigure 5;

Figure '7= is ay perspective view illustrating another modifiedY embodiment ofthe invention; and

Figure 8` isa bottom view of the toe portion of the shoe shown in'Figure-'l'p ReferringA now more particularly to the accompanying drawings,in which like numerals indicatelike' parts,I the numeral 5- designates generally al shoeinwhich the sole 6 has substantially straight sides tapering outwardly from the heel 'l and a straight or square toe of substantial width.

The actual sole consists of a piece of wood 8 or other suitable material, of the desired shape set into the lower marginal edge portion 9 of the upper I0. The upper is preferably made of can vas and is laced up the front as at I I. While canvas is ideal for this purpose, any other suitable fabric or leather may be used, so where the term fabric is employed hereinafter it is understood as encompassing any such suitable material.

A plurality of i screws I2 threaded into the sides ofthe ywooden sole 8 readily removably secure the upper to a sole as clearly shown in Figure 4, a marginal binding strip I3 being provided over the edge of the upper to reinforce the same.

Removably secured to the underside of the Wooden sole 8 is a tread I4 of lead or other suitable heavy metal. Like the sole 8, the tread has a square toe of substantial width. The tread is held in place by bolts I5, the heads I6 of which are countersunk into the inner face of the wooden sole 8 While the nuts I'I thereof are countersunk into the bottom of the tread. the tread may be removed and replaced with a In this manner substantial width,.= considerablyl greater stability, is afforded than has' been possible Iwith` shoes heretofore supplied for use by divers.

The shoe illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is es- 1 sentially of the same construction as that here.-4

inbefore described in that its upper lil is lsecured l' by screws l2 to a sole of wood or other nonmetallic material and the tread I4 is removably Ilse-- cured in position in the same manner by bolts l5. An advantage of the shoe shown in Figure 5, however, not possessed by the shoe of Figures 1 and 2, is the provision of a toe guard i9 emthe sole and secured bracing the toe portion ff in place by screws 2l).- s

The-shoe illustratedv in-Figures 7 and 8, like that shown in Figures 5 and` 6, also follows the general design and construction heretofore de scribed, but in this casethe toe guard 2i' has a hood 22 extending overthe top of the toe, and

the bottom surface yof the-heavy metaltread in stead of having widely spaced grooves is corru' gated as at 23. Also, instead of the bolts securm ing the4 treadsin place,vscrews 24 are provided,

the heads of which are countersunk into the tread as clearly shown in Figure 8. y

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art,

that this invention provides a shoe for divers have ing many advantages not possessed by the shoes heretofore available for this service. y Y y For instance, one of the`diiculties overcome by thev shoe of this invention is the liability of having the shoe pulled 01T in mud. Another ad-v vantage is that the canvas uppers have a close comfortable fit without causing the creases `in thefoot portions of the divers dress to cut into the divers feet. In addition, wear kon the foot portions of the dress is greatly reduced.

However, one of the most important advantages v results from the stability which'the novel shape and secure attachment of the Weighted Soleto the uppers provides. V y

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A shoe for a diver comprising an upper; a wooden sole to which the upper is secured; and a heavy metal tread fixed to the wooden sole.

2. A shoe for divers comprising: a wooden insole; an upper of flexible material adapted to readily conform to the shape of the divers foot; means securing the lower marginal edge of the upper to the rside edges of the insole; a heavy metal tread; and means securing the tread to Vthe bottom of said insole, the toe of the tread being square and wide to offset the tendency of the foot of the diver to rock from side to side as he walks along a submerged surface.

-3. A shoe for divers comprising: a nonmetallic sole; a fabric upper having the lower marginal edge thereof fitting over the side edges of the nonmetallic sole and secured thereto; and a heavy metal tread secured to said nonmetallic sole, the toe of at least the tread being square and wide to offset the tendency for the foot of the diver to rock from side to side as he Walks along asubmerged surface.

4. A shoe for divers comprising: a nonmetallic `sole having a square toe of substantial width; a

fabric upper having the lower marginal edge thereof fitting over the side edges of thenonmetallic sole; means for securing said lower marginal edge of the upper to the side edges of the nonmetallic sole; a heavy metal tread of a size and shape substantially conforming to the bottom of the nonmetallic sole; and means for readily removably securing said tread to the un derside of the sole.

5. A shoe for divers comprising: a nonmetallic sole having a square toe of substantial width; a fabric supper having the lower marginal edge thereof fitting over the lside edges of the nonmetallic sole; means for securing said lower marginal edge of the upper to the side edges of the nonmetallic sole; a heavy metal tread of a size and shape substantially conforming to the bottom of the nonmetallic sole; means for readily removably securing said tread to the underside of the sole; a toe guard tted over the toe of the fabric upper and embracing the toe portion of the nonmetallic sole; and means passing through v 

